69. Why was the Berlin Wall built? (6)

1. 69. Why was the Berlin Wall built? (6) BACKGROUND: 1I + 5E + 1C = 5 and 2I + 4E + 4EI + 2C = 6 By the late 1950s thousands were defecting (leaving). Often highly skilled workers or well-qualified managers. Between the years 1954 -1960, East Germany suffered a "brain drain". During that period, 4,600 doctors, 15,885 teachers, 738 university teachers, 15,536 engineers and technicians moved from East to W. Ger. The Communist government could not afford to lose these high-quality people - more importantly, from Khrushchev’s point of view, fleeing Communist rule for a better life under capitalism undermined Communism generally. Khrushchev and the Communists worried that the USA and the West used Berlin as a “listening post” to spy on the East. There was tension between the USA and the USSR because of Cuba and the U2 incident over the USSR in May, 1960 (Gary Powers). In 1961 the USA had a new President, the young and inexperienced JFK. Khrushchev thought he could bully Kennedy (Bay of Pigs, April 1961) and chose to pick a fight over Berlin. He insisted that Kennedy withdraw US troops but JFK refused – BW built in response to JFK’s refusal to hand over West Berlin to Communist control. At two o’clock in the morning on Sunday 13 August 1961, East German soldiers erected a barbed-wire barrier along the entire frontier between East and West Berlin, ending all free movement from East to West. JFK / Americans were tested and did nothing to stop the wall. It was quickly replaced by a concrete wall. All the crossing points from East to West Berlin were sealed, except for one. This became known as Checkpoint Charlie.

2. PPQ 66. Why did the USSR invade Czechoslovakia in 1968? (6) • The Soviet Union was very suspicious of the changes. The pace of reforms was too fast and liberal. • As censorship had been eased, attacks against the Communist leadership flourished (grew), pointing out how corrupt and useless they were. • Communist government ministers were ‘grilled’ on live television and radio about how they were running the country and about events before 1968. • Czechoslovakia was one of the most important countries in the Warsaw Pact (centrally placed next to Germany with strong industry and resources that the USSR relied on). • The Soviets were worried that the new ideas in Czechoslovakia might spread to other countries in Eastern Europe (Domino Effect). • There were also concerns about a new political party (Social Democratic Party) would rival the Communists and undermine Communist control. • The Soviets were also worried that the stability of the Warsaw Pact was at risk. • Brezhnev came under pressure from the East German leader, Walter Ulbricht, and the Polish leader, Gomulka, to restrain Czechoslovakia. He wanted to show affirm hand and control unfolding events. • The USSR worried that Czechoslovakia might turn to the West for help, both economically and politically. • On 20 August 1968, to the stunned amazement of the Czechs and the outside world, Soviet tanks and Warsaw Pact Allies moved into Czechoslovakia. • The Soviets were prepared for a violent response but there was little resistance. Many Czechs, however, refused to co-operate with the Soviet troops. • Ultimately the Soviets enforced the Brezhnev Doctrine - one party and secure membership in Warsaw Pact.